California Gov. Jerry Brown has been known to get a little testy with reporters, but this latest tape from CBS Los Angeles suggests the campaign for Prop. 30 may be wearing on him a bit.Reporter David Goldstein’s bang-up effort to expose Caltrans employees using state cars as their own personal vehicles is tenacious and detailed.
But Brown, at first, doesn’t appear much interested in the details.
After all, the video showing Caltrans employees hitting Costco and Nordstrom on the taxpayers’ dime comes as Brown is trying to convince voters to hike taxes in order to pay for education and other necessities.
Brown at one point even snatches the phone away from the reporter, and calls him a “thug.”
But, we note, in the end, he promises to check out the report — as does Caltrans.
(Good luck getting change from that agency. They can’t get their stuff together enough to install another FastTrak lane at the Bay Bridge — despite maddening daily backups at the toll plaza. But I digress.)
Take a look and fume at the Caltrans report — and the gov’s meltdown moment. You can view the video by clicking here.

UPDATE — Brown spokesman Gil Duran had a strong response to the video, telling us via email that “the reporter attempted to ambush the Governor at the back door of the mortuary during the funeral service, making a poor impression.”

“Caltrans is investigating and one worker has already resigned,” he said. “Could have been resolved weeks ago, but was held for sweeps.”